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First Annual 'Nemours Cares Day' Brings Out Hundreds to Support Local Communities

Nemours Associates make a difference in their communities

Friday, Apr 18, 2014Florida

Demonstrating their collective power to make a difference in communities across the Delaware Valley and Florida, Nemours held its first Nemours Care Day on April 12 in recognition of National Volunteer Week. Nearly 500 Nemours Associates, families and friends took part in activities to improve public and community spaces, deliver food to food pantries, engage children in outdoor fun, raise money for medical research and host educational forums on health and safety.

“Our inaugural Nemours Cares Day showcased the spirit of how Nemours Associates reach out beyond the walls of our hospitals and pediatric practices into the communities and places where our families live, learn and play,” said Dr. David Bailey, Nemours President and CEO. “Additionally, Nemours investment in community benefit in 2013 exceeded $154 million in care for children in medical need, and was complemented by Associate leadership and involvement in more than 200 medical and community organizations in our service area and nationally.”

In the Delaware Valley, Nemours Associates volunteered their time to help others on Nemours Cares Day. Many more Associates contributed during the course of a two week food drive, with donations being gathered at Nemours/ Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children as well as at Nemours duPont Pediatrics locations in Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. On April 12, volunteers and their families inspected, sorted, packed, and delivered boxed and canned foods to local relief organizations, including the Delaware State Service Centers, the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware, Philabundance and the South Jersey Food Bank. In addition, Associates hosted a blood drive on behalf of the Blood Bank of DelMarVa which resulted in 84 pints of donated blood. Associates also gathered at SafeKIDS Day to share health & safety information with 500 attendees, while Nemours Cardiac Center hosted a Family Education Day for more than 200 attendees. See How DV Associates Impacted Local Communities »

In Central Florida, Nemours Associates made improvements to Dover Shores Community Center in Orlando, a popular destination for children at the neighboring elementary school where many students receive free or reduced lunch. The day had a special connect to purpose for Associate Enrique Yambo, who played at the center when he was a child and was excited to have the opportunity to help spruce up the center that hosted his birthday parties and swim lessons. Associates re-mulched a playground area, painted hopscotch games on a terrace, built two outdoor benches and stuffed 500 snack packs. The morning ended with a game of dodge ball, volunteers versus kids, and plans to return for future volunteer work. View Central Florida Associates in Action »

In Jacksonville, Associates, with their families and friends, helped clean up the beach, walking trails, parking lots and lake area of the 60-acre Kathryn Abby Hanna Park. For every hour of volunteering, Hanna Park officials estimate they save $22.40. The Nemours team collectively volunteered more than 280 hours, saving the city approximately $6,300. View Jacksonville Associates in Action »

In Pensacola, Nemours Associates and their family members joined in a day of volunteer activities starting with the Walk to Cure Arthritis in the morning that honored a Nemours patient. After the walk, Associates gathered for a picnic in a local park before dispersing to three work locations along the shoreline of Gulf Breeze and Pensacola. In Gulf Breeze, Associates prepared playground landings for new playground equipment at the Gulf Breeze Community Center and were visited by Buz Eddie, city manager of Gulf Breeze, who thanked them for their volunteer spirit and hard work. In Pensacola, Associates beautified Bayview Park and Wayside Park by painting pavilions, picking up trash, weeding and edging. View Pensacola Associates in Action »

Established as The Nemours Foundation through the legacy and philanthropy of Alfred I. duPont, Nemours offers pediatric clinical care, research, education, advocacy and prevention programs to all families in the communities it serves.